iOS 26.2, macOS 26.2 and Co. certainly won’t go down in the annals as the most extensive updates: Apple mainly provided some fine-tuning when it comes to the user interface. Some new features are still on board, including the so-called “edge light” on the Mac, improvements in the games and Freeform app. The iPad benefits above all from improved multitasking, which makes it much easier to display two apps simultaneously in split view and split view. Apple is also making another improvement that has only just become known: the update has increased the WiFi speed of many devices. Maximum channel width of 160 MHz in the 5 GHz band
Apple is usually not inclined to be modest, although the company sometimes does not explicitly highlight every new feature in an update. This applies, for example, to macOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2: What both software updates have in common is that they adjust an adjusting screw to increase the speed in the WLAN. This information cannot be found in the changelog of the updates, but it can be found on Apple’s support page. Devices that support Wi-Fi 6E are affected. These devices previously used a maximum channel width of 80 MHz in 5 GHz WLAN networks. The above updates now allow a larger maximum channel width of 160 MHz, which can lead to faster transmission. The function does not need to be activated separately, but a compatible router is required.
Many devices affected by the improvement
The following devices benefit from the higher speeds in the 5 GHz band:
- MacBook Air M3 (2024) or newer
- MacBook Pro (2023) or newer
- iMac M3 (2023)
- Mac mini (2023 or newer)
- Mac Studio (2023 or newer)
- Mac Pro (2023)
- iPad Pro M2 (2022) or newer
- iPad Air M2 (2024) or newer
- iPad mini A17 Pro (2024)
By the way, Wi-Fi 7 has now become established on iPads and iPhones: The iPhone 16 and 17 as well as all offshoots of the two model series (including the iPhone Air) support the current standard. The iPad Pro M5 is also compatible with Wi-Fi 7.
